Adventures of the Supersized 6

When Jake decided that he wanted to play soccer I was ready to let him "try" it out. I figured given his visual disadvantages it might be the safer of all the Jr. Sports programs out there. the ball is larger than the rest, the black and white cotrast of the ball will be easier to see, and it is a mainly lower body contact sport as opposed to baseball where the small white ball moves at light speed towards ones face. Last year was his first season. The team he played with were all 6 year olds and this was the first year that they played in a more stratigic fashion. So Jake was learning how to play positions just like the rest of them. Given his newness to the sport I wasn't offended and nearly relieved when the coach decided to put him at full back, a.ka. sweeper.

Quick soccer lesson: In this bracket there are 3 forwards, they take the ball to the goal and score. 1 half back, he sits at half field and tries to keep the ball from going past that point, if it does and the team gets it closer to their goal then there are 2 full backs, or sweepers defending the goal, and then there is the goalie who can use his hands and keep the ball from going in the goal.

Last year Jake was developing as a player and sweeper. He did an Ok job. He lacked some focus, and was afraid of getting hurt, but so did most at that age. This year he has been a drastic change. Jake is very aggresive at Sweeper and is very consistant and effective. His kick, control, and stratagy is amazing. He knows right where to be and when to be there. The coaches have taken note and make comments regularly about his improvements. There is one on the team who we'll call "power man" who is a power house player. He has the talent of boys 5 years older. This last weekend the coach wanted to chat, he said that aside from "power man" Jake is easily the most consistent and powerful player. That Jake's kick, speed and accuracy is needed in forward. He wanted us to know that he is going to be putting Jake at forward during practice. I felt my knee's go weak, and the mom voices were arguing in my head. "He is confident and doing an amazing job at sweeper...but he needs to learn new positions...what if he bombs?....what if he is awesome!?....can he handle the hustle?....what am I talking about? He is 7!...." I watched with my nerves on edge during practice. He can run! He was exhuasted since sweepers usually only stick to one corner of the field, but he hustled. He was good too. He was not "power man" but that is ok too. We will see how he performes this weekend.

I realized that yes he is only 7, but he has adapted to his disadvantages and he has found where his greater strengths lie. If I had kept him in a protective bubble he would not be out there having the time of his life, defending the goal, and learning how to be a versatile player, and most importantly building his confidence that he can do whatever he wants. He is still afraid of his glasses getting broken and after seeing how much more agressive a year can be, this Momma is ordering sports goggles and letting go.

TLM

My kids were talking about all the things that they will be able to do once they become teenager. It seems that for them being a teenager is some magical number that makes doors open and the fun begin. Madison was talking about what kinds of friendships she will have, Jake was day dreaming about being on the varsity soccer team, and maybe even football. How cool it would be to have a car and a job. Madie asked if I liked being a teenager, I said that I did sometimes, but I like being a mom much more. Jake said that it must not have been that long ago and I must have still been a kid when I became a mom. I laughed, and said that probably wouldn't be a good thing. I asked him why he thought that. He said that I still looked like a teenager. Talk about bonus points with mom! Madison then wanted to know how long it had been since I was a teenager. I told her that it has been about 10 years since I was a teenager. Her eyes got really big and her jaw dropped. "How old are you mom, that seems like forever!" I told her that I was going to turn 29 next week. Madie then relplied, "I was guessing 100." 

I guess to some you can look like a teenager, to others you can look 100. I would say that on most days I look 28, and feel more like 19. I guess it is hard to believe that 10 years has gone by since I was a senior walking high school halls and being a teenager. Before I can blink it will be my kids. In the meantime I like thinking that I may still resemble that senior I once was.

TLM

As a mom I relish in hearing how well behaved my kids are, how they listen to authority, how they always have something great to add to a group. So when I recieved an email from Jake's teacher I was expecting an update on his lessons, or a funny tale of what he did or said during class. Instead I sat there in bewilderment and shock to read that my Jake, my sweet Jake who got bullied around last year, and is so passive on the soccer field got a red card for beating a kid up in the cafeteria, and not only was he punching, but this recipient should have worn a cup. I did not know how to respond, how does one respond? I hear stories from my teacher friends about the "problem" kids who get in trouble for fighting and other mischeivous doings, but my son...There had to be a reason... He would miss 15 minutes of recess for the beating. I had to wait 2 hours till he got off the bus to interogate him. We had a playdate set for Jake and Harry and their siblings...how do I deal with that?


Jake bounded off the bus towards me. I could tell he was excited about being able to play the rest of the day away with Harry. Why shouldn't he be, he was punished at school and figured it was all water under the bridge. I told him to tell Harry that he couldn't play today and that we needed to go inside and talk. Both boys were disappointed but Jake about fell apart once we got inside. He told me how much he didn't want to break the rules, and he knew he was going to but that he had to. I became even more confussed. He told me that the boy who recieved the brunt of Jake's furry was Conner. Conner is not one of the guys that Jake hangs out with. But Conner was just pestering Jake the entire day. Jake said it was like the boys did last year. While in line at the cafeteria Conner punched Jake in the stomache. Jake let it go and went about his lunch. While in line to leave the cafeteria it must have been driving Jake crazy that he didn't do anything about Conner. I can only imagine the options that went through Jake's head... "tell the teacher...no he punched me a long time ago...tell him that he hurt me...he would do it again...he is going to do it again...if he does it then other boys will think that they can punch me too...how do I make sure I don't get punched again?....beat the living tar out of him! Thats it, if I show him that I am not going to take it, and everyone sees that I won't take it, then everyone will leave me alone!! That's it!!! Now just turn and look at Conner and start punching." I guess his plan worked, it was the talk of the school...Don't mess with Jake this year! He has a soccer kick and he is not afraid to use it!

After much talking Jake knows that what he did was wrong, but he felt he needed to put his foot down, or up in this case...but he wanted to make sure he didn't have to do it again. I hope that is the case. But he did earn some "hall cred" with the football player buds he has newly acquired. Yikes from the bottom of the food chain last year to the top this year. I can only imagine how the next 11 years will go.

TLM

As the start of the school year came closer I began to worry about Jake's choice to go back and give it another try this year. He had grown so much while he was at home and over the summer. Would he be ready to go back? What if the kids are like the ones last year? What would I do if he said he wanted to go back to homeschooling? I made a request for a teacher who happens to be a fellow soccer mom and friend. Once my request was granted I felt better. Ms. Wilson also informed me that Jake had a neighbor in his class too. We got to meet Harry the first day of school while waiting for the bus. He seemed to be really nice and well behaved. Jake came home very excited about his new friend and they hit it off right away. Harry plays for football in the peewee league, and Jake plays soccer. Since we decided that Jake would repeat 1st grade I wondered how that would work, all his soccer mates moved on to 2nd grade. But with Harry as his buddy Jake is now one of the guys. Last year he had such a hard time being the new kid, but this year all it took was his friendship with Harry to open the door. Last year the only friend he had made was a bit of a trouble maker and came from a bad family situation. We could see that it was influencing Jake. I have a feeling that this is going to be a much better year. I guess it is all in who you know.

TLM